Monaghan Man loses cynicism on Slieve Donard !

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Monaghan man Paul Bond , age 44, is devastated to have lost one of his most treasured possesions on a walk to the summit of Slieve Donard. " I have been a practising Cynic for more years than I care to remember and I feel strange to have lost it at this stage. " Paul said when we caught up with him on Monday.

" I distinctly remember having it in my posession on Sunday morning in Donard car park before we set off on our charity walk in aid of Water for Life as I looked over at Mr.Pierce chomping into his ham and cheese jambon and thinking that the last thing we needed was him to be even heavier as we all fully expected to be carrying him back down the mountain."

"It was definitely there as we started off our journey up through the forest and Mr.Moore insisted on a rota for carrying the 25 kilo jerry can of water to the top and I carefully volunteered to go 8th , reckoning that this was the best option to only have to carry it once."

The reason that Mr.Bond was on Slieve Donard on Sunday was to take part in a chaity walk to the summit of Slieve Donard carrying a 25 kilo jerry can of water in a large rucksack to symbolise the time and effort expounded daily by many women in Africa fetching water across great distances. Mr.Bond is a member of Edmund Johnson's Vistage group who wanted to show support, both moral and financial to fellow member Richard Moore's Water For Life charity.

"The last time I recall being cynical was when I looked back down the mountain and saw with horror that catching up with us rapidly was someone who seemed to be carrying an even bigger rucksack and in case they were from Christian Aid carrying a 30 kilo jerry can I directed them right at the Saddle instead of left and we did not see them for the rest of the day." ( This incident may have been imagined, the air gets very thin at the top of Slieve Donard)

After that I carried the jerry can for a second stint up the steep bit and we made it to the top. And I fully believe that it was there at the top of Slieve Donard surrounded by this motley crew that my cynicism was lost :

It was a little ironic that we were trampimg up a hill in County Down getting soaked to the skin in the wind and the rain in order to raise money for drilling equipment to bring water to villages in Uganda, but there you go.

At the top we shared out our Wagon Wheels, chicken sandwitches and Kit Kats , took a few snaps to remember the day and headed back down.

The descent was slow too but took place in a lighter mood all round.

This Vistage group had been on an inspirational retreat led by Dr.Tom Hill the previous week and the walk up the mountain together seemed a fitting testament to all that we had learned in an altogether life changing week.

Back in the car park , all safe and sound, if slightly strained in places where no God fearing man or woman should be strained, we had a few words from the irrepressible Mr.McErlean, quoting Seamus Heaney's "Cure at Troy" :

"Believe that a further shore

is reachable from here.

Believe in miracles

and cures and healing wells."

Cheers,

Paul

P.S. Today I've been listening to the Waterboys "Whole of the Moon"